The Western Bulldogs have won a wildly fluctuating Grand Final rematch with Sydney, overcoming a slow start and a late Lance Franklin-inspired Swans comeback to prevail by 23 points at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

The Swans looked as if they were still smarting from their shock round one loss to Port Adelaide when they burst from the blocks to kick the opening four goals, jumping to a 23-point lead midway through the first quarter.

But the Dogs soon settled and looked to have control of the match when they led by 28 points late in the third term.

The Dogs would eventually record a 16.14 (110) to 13.9 (87) victory, but Franklin and the Swans gave them an almighty scare in the meantime.

Franklin kicked a goal in the shadows of three-quarter time that brought the Swans within 22 points, and then rammed on the first three majors of the final term, the last two majestic curling shots from outside 50m.

The last of those goals dragged the Swans within two points, and they hit the lead a minute later when Sam Reid marked and kicked his sixth goal.

But just when the Dogs were on the ropes they rediscovered their verve.

First, Marcus Bontempelli picked Harry Cunningham's pocket to mark in the goalsquare and goaled without breaking stride to put the Bulldogs four points up at the 17-minute mark.

Shortly after, Callum Mills seemed unlucky to be pinged for a deliberate rushed behind – he had Liam Picken on his hammer – but Picken showed him no sympathy, running around from a tight ankle to convert the resultant free kick.

Jake Stringer streamed through the centre to goal just over a minute later, and when Picken added the Dogs' fourth unanswered major eight minutes later the Dogs were 23 points up and home.

It was the perfect end to a joyous night for Bulldogs fans, who had earlier watched 1954 premiership player Angus Abbey and 1970-80s legend Doug Hawkins raise the club's second premiership flag.

The Swans' disappointing night was further soured by a left ankle injury to Kurt Tippett and Zak Jones being reported for rough conduct on Travis Cloke just minutes later.

Tippett landed awkwardly after taking a strong mark midway through the first quarter, his ankle rolling underneath him. He was unable to take his kick and came straight from the ground, playing no further part in the game.

Jones cannoned into Cloke moments after the Bulldogs spearhead had marked, but did not appear to make head-high contact. Cloke was also able to get to his feet relatively quickly and goaled after receiving a free kick and 50m penalty.

Bontempelli (30 possessions, five clearances and two goals) was the star for the Dogs, while Ling Jong (23 possessions and eight marks) was outstanding in attack.

Jake Stringer (three goals) was also back to his barnstorming best, Liam Picken (21 possessions and two goals) worked his tail off in attack, Travis Cloke kicked three first-half goals and key defender Marcus Adams did well in his first game of the year.

Franklin (22 possessions, 11 marks and four goals) was brilliant for the Swans, and was ably supported by Reid, whose game-high six goals included three of the game's first four in a remarkable 15-minute burst.

Jake Lloyd had 34 touches through the midfield, while Josh Kennedy (23 possessions and five clearances) and Luke Parker (21 and five) did a power of work at the stoppages.

The Swans' loss marked just the second time since 2006 that they have opened a season 0-2. But when they last did that in 2014, they recovered to make the Grand Final.

Sydney was missing eight players from last year's Grand Final team (Isaac Heeney, Ben McGlynn, Jarrad McVeigh, Tom Mitchell, Tom Papley, Dane Rampe, Xavier Richards and Gary Rohan) and unveiled three debutants: Robbie Fox, Nic Newman and Will Hayward.

But the Bulldogs were also missing seven of their Grand Final 22 (Dale Morris, Jordan Roughead, Tory Dickson, Toby McLean, Joel Hamling, Josh Dunkley and Clay Smith).

MEDICAL ROOM

Western Bulldogs: TBC.

Sydney: Tippett's injury looked a nasty one. Some reports suggested the Swans were concerned he had broken his fibula and would send him for scans.

NEXT UP
The Bulldogs play Fremantle next Saturday at Domain Stadium, a venue where they had lost seven games in a row before their dominant 2016 elimination final win over West Coast. The Swans return to the SCG to host Collingwood next Friday night.

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Cloke 3, Stringer 3, Bontempelli 2, T.Boyd 2, Picken 2, Jong, Murphy, Hunter, Suckling
Sydney: Reid 6, Franklin 4, Newman, Florent, Laidler

BEST 
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus, Jong, Bontempelli, Stringer, Biggs, Hunter, Cloke
Sydney: Reid, Franklin, Lloyd, Kennedy, Jones, Parker

INJURIES 
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Sydney: Tippett (ankle)

Reports: Zak Jones (Sydney) for rough conduct on Travis Cloke (Western Bulldogs) in the first quarter

Umpires: Hosking, Ryan, Mollison

Official crowd: 42,000 at Etihad Stadium